Kit particularly useful for mounting percussion instruments to a stand

ABSTRACT

A kit is described particularly useful for mounting percussion instruments to a stand. The kit includes a plurality of mounting bars each formed with a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of like rods attachable to the bars for supporting various percussion instruments. Each rod includes an externally-threaded end which may be passed through the apertures in the mounting bars, the opposite end of the rods being formed with an internally-threaded axially-extending bore to receive the firstmentioned end of another like rod. Further included are bolts having threaded shanks receivable in the axially-extending bore of the rods, and nuts threadedly attachable to the externallythreaded ends of the rods. The foregoing elements may be assembled in many different arrangements to support cymbals, drums, temple blocks, cowbells, and other percussion instruments from a stand.

United States Patent [191 Cohen 1 July 8,1975

[76] Inventor: Yehuda Cohen, 25 Sokolov St., Tel

Aviv, Israel 221 Filed: May 3,1974

21 Appl. No.: 466,704

[52] U.S. Cl. 84/402; 84/421; 248/124 Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner.lohn F. Gonzales Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Benjamin J. Barish [57] ABSTRACT A kit is described particularly useful for mounting percussion instruments to a stand. The kit includes a plurality of mounting bars each formed with a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of like rods attachable to the bars for supporting various percussion instruments. Each rod includes an externally-threaded end which may be passed through the apertures in the mounting bars, the opposite end of the rods being formed with an internally-threaded axially-extending bore to receive the first-mentioned end of another like rod. Further included are bolts having threaded shanks receivable in the axially-extending bore of the rods, and nuts threadedly attachable to the externally-threaded ends of the rods. The foregoing elements may be assembled in many different arrangements to support cymbals, drums, temple blocks, cowbells, and other percussion instruments from a stand.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures KIT PARTICULARLY USEFUL FOR MOUNTING PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS TO A STAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to kits particularly useful for mounting various types of percussion instruments to a stand.

The percussionist in playing contemporary music is very frequently required to play many different combinations of percussion instruments at the same time. Examples of such percussion instruments include cymbals, bongos, temple blocks, and cowbells. Accordingly, there is a need to mount these percussion instruments in a manner which will permit any desired number and arrangement of instruments to be made, which will make them readily available to the percussionist according to the piece performed, and which will also enable changes to be conveniently made. The present practice is to use a plurality of different stands each for supporting only one type of instrument, but it is not always possible when using many stands to support the percussion instruments at locations providing ready accessibility to the percussionist. In addition, using a plurality of stands takes up a large amount of space, is expensive. and is inconvenient to assemble, disassemble, transport and store.

An object of the present invention is to provide a kit particularly useful for mounting percussion instruments to a stand, which kit provides a number of advantages in the above respects. Another object is to provide a stand constructed with the elements of the above novel kit.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the kit includes at least one mounting bar formed with a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of rods attachable to the bar by passing them through selected apertures of the bar for supporting various percussion instruments. Each rod includes an externally-threaded end of a diameter to pass through the apertures in the mounting bar, the opposite end of the rods being formed with an internallythreaded, axially-extending bore of the same internal diameter as the externally-threaded end. Two such rods may therefore be threadedly attached together with or without a mounting bar clamped between them.

According to an additional feature, the kit further includes one or more bolts each having an enlarged head and a threaded shank threadedly receivable in the axially-extending bore of the rods. The kit further includes one or more nuts of an inner diameter for threadedly receiving the externally-threaded end of the rods.

According to a still further feature, one or more of the rods also include a plastic sleeve lining a portion of its externally-threaded end, and a pair of non-metal apertured discs passing through the externally threaded end for clamping a cymbal between them, the cymbal when so clamped being isolated from the rod by the plastic sleeve and the non-metal discs.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a stand including the parts of the kit as set forth above assembled together and supporting a plurality of percussion instruments.

Such a kit may be used for supporting various percussion instruments in an almost unlimited number of variations and combinations as required by the piece being played. This advantage, as well as other advantages and features of the invention, will be more fully apparent from the description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is an elevational view illustrating one stand arrangement that may be provided in accordance with the invention for supporting various percussion instruments;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a mounting bar included in the kit for use in the stand of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view illustrating one of the rods included in the kit, and particularly showing how a pair of such rods may be used for clamping between them the mounting bar of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view illustrating a pair of the rods included in the kit and the manner of using them for mounting a cymbal to the stand; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the element in the kit which may be used for supporting a smaller mounting bar from a large mounting bar, both bars being capable of supporting many different percussion instruments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The stand illustrated in FIG. 1 is of a conventional construction but includes parts of the novel kit of the present invention adapting the stand to support a large number of different percussion instruments in various combinations and arrangements. The stand thus includes the conventional tripod 2 having three legs 3 adjustably supporting a center post 4, all as known per se. The upper end of post 4 carries a clamp 6 adapted to receive the center post of the normal stand. In this case, clamp 6 receives various elements of the kit for supporting the percussion instruments to be carried by the stand.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. I, the various percussion instruments supported by the stand comprise: three cymbals 8, 10, 12, each mounted above the other; a pair of bongos 14, 16; a pair of temple blocks 18, 20; and a pair of cowbells 22, 24.

For mounting the foregoing elements on the tripod 2, two basic elements are used, namely: mounting bars 30 and 30, and rods, shown as 32 in FIG. 3, and as 42 in FIG. 4. In addition, the kit includes a plurality of bolts 52 and a plurality of wing nuts 54, one of each being shown in FIG. 5.

The mounting bars are preferably of different lengths. For purposes of example, the stand of FIG. 1 illustrates a large mounting bar 30 and a smaller mounting bar 30'. Both mounting bars are formed with a plurality of apertures 31 (FIG. 2) for receiving the rods 32, 42 of the kit, or the bolts 52, which rods or bolts support the various percussion instruments. Each mounting bar 30, 30' is a flat rigid bar of metal. The apertures 31, are preferably equally-spaced at small distances along the length of the bar and are all of the same diameter.

The rods 32 are made of metal, such as brass or bronze. Each is formed with an externally-threaded small-diameter end 36 adapted to pass through an aperture 31 of the mounting blocks 30, 30'. The opposite end 37 of each rod is of larger diameter than apertures 31 in the mounting bars, so that the juncture of the smaller-diameter externally-threaded end 36 with the remainder of the rod defines a flat annular shoulder 38 of larger diameter than apertures 31.

The larger diameter end 37 of each rod 32 is formed with an axially-extending bore 39 of the same diameter as the externally-threaded end 36 of the rod, bore 39 being internally threaded so that the externallythreaded end 36 of one rod 32 is receivable in the inter nally-threaded bore 39 of another like rod, shown in broken lines 32' in FIG. 3.

Each rod 42 illustrated in FIG. 4 is of the same construction as rod 32 illustrated in FIG. 3, except that rod 42 includes additional parts enabling it to mount cymbals. As shown in FIG. 4, two rods 42, 42' may be used for mounting a cymbal 8 by passing the apertured cymbal through the externally-threaded small-diameter end 46 (corresponding to end 36 in FIG. 3) of one rod 42. That end of the rod, however, includes a plastic sleeve 60 lining the portion thereof occupied by the cymbal in order to isolate the cymbal from the metal rod. Sleeve 60 cooperates with a pair of non-metal discs 62, 64 adapted to clamp the cymbal 8 between them. The lower non-metal disc 62 is an apertured felt pad supported on a metal washer 66, and the upper non-metal disc 64 is a leather washer. The cymbal 8 is clamped between two rods 42 (the upper rod being shown at 42') by passing the externally-threaded end 46 of one rod, carrying the liner 60 and discs 64, 66, into the internally-threaded bore 49 of the other rod 42'. The cymbal 8 is thus securely clamped between the two discs 62, 64 and is isolated from the metal rods by these discs and the plastic liner 60.

The bolts 52 (FIG. included in the kit have a threaded shank portion 56 of the same diameter and length as the externally-threaded portion 36 of the rods 32 (and 42), so that the bolt shank 56 is also threadedly receivable within the threaded axial bore 39 of the rods. The head 58 of each bolt 52 is of larger diameter than apertures 31 of the mounting bars 30, 30. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, bolts 52 may be used for mounting a rod 32 to a mounting bar 30 by passing the threaded shank 52 through an aperture 31 of the bar and into the internally-threaded axial bore 39 of the rod. A pair of washers 70, 72 are provided, one on each side of the mounting bar 30.

In FIG. 5, bolt 52 is used for mounting the smaller mounting bar 30' to the larger mounting bar 30. In this use, a rod 32 is threaded onto shank 56 of bolt 52 to clamp that end of the rod to the larger mounting bar 30. The opposite end of the rod is clamped to the smaller mounting bar 30' by passing the externallythreaded end 36 of rod 32 through an aperture 31 in the smaller bar 30, and then threading a wing-nut 54 onto the projecting end 36 of the rod. Washers 74, 76 are also provided, one on each side of mounting bar 30.

FIG. 1 illustrates how the foregoing elements of the kit may be used for supporting a large number of different percussion instruments from a stand in almost any desired arrangement.

Thus, in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. I, the three cymbals 8, l0, 12, are supported by three rods 42a, 42b, 42c, all corresponding to the plastic-lined rod 42 illustrated in FIG. 4. These rods are threadedly attached to each other in a straight line with a cymbal clamped between each pair of adjacent rods.

The uppermost rod of the cymbal assembly does not have to be plastic-lined, and therefore this rod is identified as 32a, corresponding to rod 32 in FIG. 3. The internally-threaded bore 39 of rod 32a is threaded into the externally-threaded 46 of the underlying rod 42c to clamp the uppermost cymbal 12.

The upper end of rod 320 is the externally-threaded one. This end is passed through an aperture 3I in mounting bar 30, and is threaded into the internallythreaded bore 39 of another rod 32!). The latter rod may be used for supporting temple block I8. The clamp used for attaching that temple block to rod 32b is not seen in FIG. I, but such clamps are well known; for example, the clamp may be of the type illustrated at 70, FIG. 1, for clamping cowbell 24.

Mounting bar 30, thus clamped to the stand, may be used for mounting a number of other percussion instruments and also for mounting the smaller mounting bar 30' which in turn mounts other percussion instruments.

Thus, the bongo drums l4, 16, may be mounted by the use of a rod 320 corresponding to rod 32 in FIG. 3, having the externally-threaded end 36 passed through an aperture 3I in mounting bar 30, and fastened to it by the use of a wing-nut 54a. Temple block 20 may be mounted in a similar manner to mounting bar 30 by the use of another rod 32d and wing-nut 5412.

Another opening 31 in mounting bar 30 is used for mounting the smaller mounting bar 30' in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, for mounting the smaller bar 30, there is used a bolt 520, a rod 322, and a wing-nut 54b, these elements being assembled in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The smaller mounting bar 30 is used for mounting further percussion instruments. In the example illus trated in FIG. 1, it is used for mounting the two cowbells 22, 24. Cowbell 22 is mounted by the use of one rod 32f having its externally-threaded end 36 passing through an opening 31 in the smaller mounting bar 30 and fastened by a wing nut 54c; cowbell 24 is mounted in a similar manner, by the use of another rod 323 passing through another opening in mounting bar 30' and fastened thereto by wing nut 54d.

For stability purposes, mounting bars 30 and 30' would each be mounted through aperture 31 closest to the center of gravity of the bar when loaded with the percussion instruments it is to support.

It will thus be seen that the kit illustrated enables an almost unlimited number of different arrangements of percussion instruments to be provided on a stand. Thus, the percussionist can tailor each percussion instrument assembly according to the specific piece he has to play, with each percussion instrument placed at the optimum location with respect to accessibility. The kit illustrated also permits the stand to be conveniently assembled and disassembled. Further, the parts occupy relatively little space in the disassembled condition for storage or transportation.

Many variations, modifications and other applications of the illustrated embodiment will be apparent.

What is claimed is:

1. A kit particularly useful for mounting various percussion instruments to a stand, comprising: at least one mounting bar formed with a plurality of apertures; and a plurality of rods attachable to the bar by passing them through selected apertures of the bar for supporting various percussion instruments, each of said rods including an externally-threaded end of a diameter to pass through the apertures in the mounting bar, the opposite end of each rod being formed with an internally threaded, axially-extending bore of the same internal diameter as the externally-threaded end enabling two such rods to be threadedly attached together and to a mounting bar clamped between them, at least one of said rods further including a plastic sleeve lining a portion of its externally-threaded end, and a pair of nonmetal apertured discs passing through said externally threaded end for clamping a cymbal between them, with the cymbal when so clamped being isolated from the rod by said plastic sleeve and the two non-metal discs.

2. A kit as defined in claim 1, further including at least one bolt having an enlarged head and a threaded shank threadedly receivable in the axially-extending bore of one of said rods for attaching said end of a rod to the mounting bar.

3. A kit as defined in claim 1, further including at least one nut of an inner diameter for threadedly receiving the externally-threaded end of one of said rods for attaching said end of a rod to the mounting bar.

4. A kit as defined in claim 1, further including a plurality of bolts each having an enlarged head and a threaded shank threadedly receivable in the axiallyextending bore of said rod, and a plurality of nuts each of an inner diameter for threadedly receiving the externally-threaded end of one of said rods.

5. A kit as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said non-metal apertured discs is a felt pad.

6. A kit as defined in claim 5, wherein the other of said non-metal apertured discs is a leather washer.

7. A stand including the parts of the kit as defined in claim 1, assembled together for supporting a plurality of percussion instruments.

8. A stand as defined in claim 7, wherein there are at least two cymbals and at least two rods containing said plastic sleeve lining, the rods being threadedly attached to each other in a straight line with one cymbal clamped between the two rods and the other cymbal clamped to the plastic sleeve lined end of one of said rods 

1. A kit particularly useful for mounting various percussion instruments to a stand, comprising: at least one mounting bar formed with a plurality of apertures; and a plurality of rods attachable to the bar by passing them through selected apertures of the bar for supporting various percussion instruments, each of said rods including an externally-threaded end of a diameter to pass through the apertures in the mounting bar, the opposite end of each rod being formed with an internally threaded, axiallyextending bore of the same internal diameter as the externallythreaded end enabling two such rods to be threadedly attached together and to a mounting bar clamped between them, at least one of said rods further including a plastic sleeve lining a portion of its externally-threaded end, and a pair of non-metal apertured discs passing through said externally threaded end for clamping a cymbal between them, with the cymbal when so clamped being isolated from the rod by said plastic sleeve and the two nonmetal discs.
 2. A kit as defined in claim 1, further including at least one bolt having an enlarged head and a threaded shank threadedly receivable in the axially-extending bore of one of said rods for attaching said end of a rod to the mounting bar.
 3. A kit as defined in claim 1, further including at least one nut of an inner diameter for threadedly receiving the externally-threaded end of one of said rods for attaching said end of a rod to the mounting bar.
 4. A kit as defined in claim 1, further including a plurality of bolts each having an enlarged head and a threaded shank threadedly receivable in the axially-extending bore of said rod, and a plurality of nuts each of an inner diameter for threadedly receiving the externally-threaded end of one of said rods.
 5. A kit as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said non-metal apertured discs is a felt pad.
 6. A kit as defined in claim 5, wherein the other of said non-metal apertured discs is a leather washer.
 7. A stand including the parts of the kit as defined in claim 1, assembled together for supporting a plurality of percussion instruments.
 8. A stand as defined in claim 7, wherein there are at least two cymbals and at least two rods containing said plastic sleeve lining, the rods being threadedly attached to each other in a straight line with one cymbal clamped between the two rods and the other cymbal clamped to the plastic sleeve lined end of one of said rods. 